Train-control system



F. A. SKETCHLEY.

TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM.

- APPLICATION FILED AUG-30.19I8. 1,314,439. Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET II Plow a mu: coLuumA PLANOKIRAIII cn.. WASHINGTON. l 1.:

F. A. SKETCHLEY.

TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUGdil). 1918.

1,314,439. Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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wuentoz {46% ZZJZeiM/gy FRED ARTHUR SKETCHLEY, OF EAST SAUGUS, MASSACHUSETTS.

. TRAIN-CONTROL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

atented A119. 26, 1919.

Application filed August 30, 1918. Serial No. 252,082.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Fnnn An'ri-iUn Snn'ronLnY, a citizen of the United States. residing at East Saugus, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Train-Control Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful lI'IlPIOVGlDBIltS in train control systems, and the principal object of the invention is to provide means adapted to be operated by one train for moving a track obstruction into upright position so that this obstruction will operate mechanism on another train for cutting otl the steam supply of said train and applying the brakes. The invention includcs among other features a series of casings located along the track, each casing containing magnets, a plate movably mounted in the casing and adapted to be actuated by said magnets, a rod connected with the plate and adapted to be operated by the passing train and a series of circuits controlled by said plate and leading to the other casings and to the means for actuating the track obstruction.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings. wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts through the severalviews, and in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of one of the casings,

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the ar rangement ot' the train operated rod,

Fig. 1 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the spring supports for the plate,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the invention applied to a crossing.

I11 these figures 1 indicates the pair of rails of the track while 2, 3, and 4 indicate thecasings located along the same. Each of these casings carries a partition plate 5 made of fiber or the like and the cover plate 6. As will be seen the casing is located below the track and the center thereof below one rail. This rail immediately above the casing is provided with a. slot 7 to receive the end of a rod 8 which projects from the casing. The lower end of this rod is slidably mounted in the partition 5 with its upper end extending through the cover plate and said slot in the rail. The rod carries a plate 9. The upper end of the rod is of segmental shape as indicated at 10 so that the part thereof projecting above the rail is of curved shape. The cover of the casing carries a pair of magnets 11 projecting downwardly therefrom into the casing and these magnets are located in an electric circuit 12 which is connected with a pair of contacts 13 in the adjacent casing. The contacts 13 in the first mentioned casing are connected with the magnets of the casing in the rear thereof. These contacts are mounted on insulated blocks 14 secured to the walls 0] the casing and spring plates 11) are pivoted to the upper faces of said blocks by means of the pins 16. In this way the plates 15 may be swung upwardly but said plates are held against downward movement by blocks 1? secured to the blocks 14.

A, B. and C, indicate small casings placed along the track and each casing has mounted therein a. pivoted men'iber 18. This membcr passes through a slot in the top of the casing and when in raised position will be struck by a part on the train and this part will operate mechanism to shut off the steam supply to the engine and apply the brakes and thus stop the train. The member 18 is pivoted at its lower end and an arm 19 is connected with this lower end in such a. manner that the weight of the arm will cause the member to normally rest in its lowest posit-ion. magnet 20 is carried by the cover of the casing and an armature 21 is carried by the arm 19 so that when the mag net is energized it will attract the armature and raise the arm and so move the member 18 into operative position. This magnet 20 is electrically connected with a pair of contacts 22 in the adjacent casing.

\Vhen a train passes over casing 2, the wheels thereof will depress the rod 8 and thus move the plate 9 into engagement with the contacts 13. This will complete the circuit to the magnets of the casing in the rear. This action will force the plate 9 by the spring plates 15, said plates bonding to almovement plate 9 moves upwardly low the plate 9 to pass by. WVhen the train passes over casing 3 and pushes rod 8 down forcing plate-9 into engagement with thecontacts 13 in said casing the circuits to magnets 11 in casing 2 will be closed so that the plate 9 will be raised into engagement with the contacts 22 so as to close the circuit to magnet 20 in casing A, whereby themem-, ber 18 in said casing will be raised into operative position. If a train should be following the train on casing 3 it would come in contact with said member 18 in casing A. and thus be stopped, as said member 18 willactuate a part on the engine which will operate mechanism to shut oil the steam applied to the engine and apply the brakes as. before described. It will be seen that as the it will swing the 1 spring. plates 15 on their pivots so that these plates will notinterfere'with the upward of the plate 9. As the plate 9 leaves the contacts 13 the circuit to the magnets'in casing 2 will be broken .so that. plate 9..in said. casing 2 will dropbackon to the.

spring-.plateslS and will be supported by, I said plates. This Wlll-ClBllGlQ'lZG themag.-. net of thecasing in rear of A? so as to per-.1

mit the operating-member in said casing to. .assume its inoperative position.

When thetrain passes over casing t it,

will forceplate. 9 into;engagement with the contacts-.13 so as. to.close the circuit to the magnetsin casing-.3 thus causingthem to ing member 18 :raise plate 9 in said casing 3 which will close thecircuit to 'magnet 20in casing Bf. raisinto operative position. The upward movementof plate 9 1n casing 3 will I break the circuit to theanagnets iir casing 2,;

: Copies of this patent may he obtained for .five can so thatthe plate-9. in said casing 2 willdrop .backon the supporting springs 15 and thus -break the circuit tothe ,magnet in cas ng A, thus permitting the operating.member in .saidcasing A-to.assume its inoperative position.

Fig. (ishows the invention applied to a:

cr0ssin 'In this view two of the devices indicated by thereference letters D and F are-placed on one track While thedevices E otheri track. These that. when a train tions will be raised at the devices E andG so as to stop a train from passing over the crossing on this track. It will be understood that the projection of the device in rear of the device D Will also be raised. When the train reaches device F it will energize the magnets in device D and this will break the circuits E and G, so as to permit a traiirto pass on the track on which devices E and G are located.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire itto be understood that I may make such changes in the construction and in the. combination and arrangen'ient of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims. Having described my inventionavhat I 'claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent adjacent each casing, electric means controlling saidobstructions, magnets in each casing, a switch plate in said casing controlling said electrical means and operated by the magnets, an electric .circuitconnecting the magnets in eaclrcasing' to contacts in the adjoiningcasing and a rod adapted to be operated by the train and connected with the switch plate for forcing said plate into eugagement with said contacts.

2. A train control system comprising a series of track obstructions, magnetic means for controlling said obstructions, a series of casings, contacts in each casing, a circuit connecting some of said contacts with the magnetic means, magnets in each casing, a

circuit connecting said magnets in one casing with the other contacts in theadj acent cesing, a switch plate in each casing adapted to close the circuit to the magnetic means when the magnets in said casing are energized, a

vtrain operated rod connected with said switch-plate for moving the same into engagementwith the other contacts and closing the circuits to the magnets andhinged spring plates for supporting said switchplate in inope ative: position.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

FRED ARTHUR SKETCHLEY.

ts cach -by addressing theFCommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

